- Graphic Novels
- Ages 8–12
- Adventure
Deeply Dave
When Dave's astronaut mum crash-lands at the bottom of the ocean, only a small boy in a diving suit can plunge past the alien monsters and bizarre sea creatures to rescue her. Told in a page-flipping vertical format that plunges you deeper with every turn.
- Best for8–12
- FormatGraphic
- Length240 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr55 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Onomatopoeic
Tone
- Funny
- Exciting
- Adventurous
- Absurdist
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Dave's mum is an astronaut, which is impressive, except she has ended up stranded at the very bottom of the sea, trapped in the wreckage of her sunken spaceship. Nobody else is diving down to get her, so Dave straps on his gear and plunges into the abyss himself. Down and down he goes, past glowing horrors, ravenous alien monsters and the strangest creatures the deep has to offer, each page dropping him further into the dark. Adapted from Michael Grover's Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated webcomic, Deeply Dave is bound at the top so the pages flip vertically, mimicking the endless scroll of a screen and pulling readers straight down into the deep with its pint-sized hero. Madcap, gross and genuinely thrilling, it's a big-hearted adventure about a boy who will go to the ends of the ocean for the person he loves most.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A fast, funny adventure graphic novel for 8-12s, and a strong pick for reluctant readers thanks to its unusual format and heavy visual support. It's more thrill than calm, so it suits daytime reading rather than a wind-down at bedtime.
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- Best fit · 8–12
- Read aloud · 7–10
- Independent · 8–12
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Patchy
Works well for
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
1 / 5 · Wide awake
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
2 / 5 · Mild
Best for
- Reluctant readers
- Action lovers
- Funny graphic novels
- Monster fans
Avoid if
- Wants calm bedtime
- Dislikes scary creatures
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The book flips downward so you literally plunge deeper with every page, past weirder and scarier sea monsters, which feels like scrolling straight into the dark. Dave is tiny and brave and refuses to give up, and the mix of gross creatures and non-stop action makes it impossible to put down.
- Surviving danger
- Adventure and freedom
- The underdog winning
- Being special or chosen
Why parents love it
The vertical, top-bound format is a genuinely clever hook that draws reluctant readers straight in, and the relentless pace keeps them turning. Under the monster mayhem it's a sweet story about a child's love for a parent, and it earns its place with kids who insist they don't like books.
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
About the author & illustrator
Michael Grover.
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